River Murray Weekly Report
For the week ending Wednesday, 19 March2018
Trim Ref:D14/9652
Rainfall and Inflows
The highest rainfall totals this week wererecordedover the Victorian ranges and along the eastern slopes and ranges of NSW and southern Queensland. The rain was associated with a trough that generated scattered thunderstorms; and a cold front that brought cooler weather to the south-east over the weekend. Across the central and western Murray-Darling Basin, rainfall was patchy and mostly light (Map 1).
The highest rain totals in Victoria fell over the Alpine areas and included 61 mm at Mt Hotham, 51mm at Mt Buller, 46 mm at Mt Buffalo and 43 mm at Archerton. Notable totals in NSW included 48mm at Tenterfield, 39 mm at Wellington, 36 mm at Nundle and 36 mm at Bathurst Airport; while just over the Queensland border 53 mm was recorded at Applethorpe and 37 mm at Stanthorpe.
Map 1 - Murray-Darling Basin rainfall for the week ending 19 March 2014 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology).
There was modest rain in some of the upper Murray catchments but it had little impact on stream flows. On the Mitta Mitta River, the flow at Hinnomunjie Bridge increased from 100 to 220 ML/day; and on the upper River Murray, the flow at Biggara increased from about 350 to 500 ML/day. On the Ovens River, the flow at Rocky Point increased from around 250 to 350 ML/day. Flows at most gauges have now returned to base flow levels.
River Operations
MDBA active storage decreased by 96 GL this week and is currently 4 921 GL or 58% capacity. AtDartmouth Reservoir, storage decreased by 10 GL to 3,470 GL (90% capacity). The release,measured at the Colemans gauge, has remained steady at a flow of 1,500 ML/day.This flow is expected to reduce to around 1,000ML/day over the coming weekend before increasing to around 4,500ML/day late in the coming week (see attached flow advice for more information).
At Hume Reservoir, the storage volume fell by 85 GL to 1,181 GL (39% capacity). The release was reduced earlier in the week in response to forecast rainfall as well as reduced releases downstream of Yarrawonga Weir but has risen again to around 15,500ML/day due to increasingdemands at the major irrigation offtakes.
At Yarrawonga Weir, the total diversion at the major irrigation offtakes increased again this week with around 48 GL diverted. The pool level in Lake Mulwala is currently 124.70 m AHD. The downstream release averaged around 7,900ML/day compared with around 9,000 ML/day last week. The release will be reduced to around 7,300 ML/day in the coming week and is likely to be reduced further in April. This lower flow enables more water to be saved in Hume and Dartmouth Reservoirs for future use. MDBA will call on water from the Goulburn and Murrumbidgee Valley inter-valley transfer accounts to meet any increase in downstream demands in the coming weeks.
On the Edward River system diversions to the Wakool Main Canal averaged 930ML/day. The flow at Moulamein decreased during the week from 1,350ML/day to 930ML/day and the flow in the Wakool Riverat Stoney Crossing has receded further to 510 ML/day.
Flow in the Goulburn River at Shepparton started to rise late this weekdue to delivery of anenvironmental pulse. Further downstream at McCoys Bridge, the flow is expected to start rising in the coming days and reach around 4,000ML/day over the coming week, before gradually reducing back to around 900 ML/day in the second week of April.At National Channel,the diversion increased this week to 3,400ML/dayand is forecast to remain steady over thecoming week.The flow in the Murray downstream of Torrumbarry Weir has decreased to 3,700ML/day and is expected to fall to around 3,400 ML/day in the coming week, before increasing again in response to the higher inflows from the Goulburn River.
The flow in the Murrumbidgee at Balranald is currently 400ML/day and is expected to fall to the normal minimum of 180 ML/day by early next week. The flow downstream of Euston Weir has receded to 6,000ML/day and is forecast to reduce further over the next two weeks.
At Menindee Lakes, the storage volume decreased by 21 GL over the last week to 400 GL (23% capacity). The flow at Weir 32 is targeting 350 ML/day, while theflow downstream at Burtundyaveraged 290 ML/day.
The flow at Wentworth Weir on the Murrayhas fallen thisweek from 8,900 ML/day to around 6,500 ML/day.
At Lake Victoria, the storage volume fell by 1 GL to 464 GL (69% capacity). Flow to South Australia is currently averaging around 7,000 ML/day and is expected to remain around this rate next week.
At the Lower Lakes, the 5-day average level has remained steady at 0.61 m AHD. The estimated release through the barrages is currently around400 ML/day, through the fishways, one gate partially open at Boundary Creek and one gate open at Tauwitchere.
For media inquiries contact the Media Officeron 02 6279 0141
DAVID DREVERMAN
Executive Director, River Management
Water in Storage Week ending Wednesday 19 Mar 2014
MDBA Storages / Full Supply Level / Full Supply Volume / Current Storage Level / Current / Storage / Dead Storage / Active Storage / Change in Total Storage for the Week(m AHD) / (GL) / (m AHD) / (GL) / % / (GL) / (GL) / (GL)
Dartmouth Reservoir / 486.00 / 3 856 / 479.92 / 3 470 / 90% / 71 / 3 399 / -10
Hume Reservoir / 192.00 / 3 005 / 180.41 / 1 181 / 39% / 23 / 1 158 / -85
Lake Victoria / 27.00 / 677 / 25.15 / 464 / 69% / 100 / 364 / -1
Menindee Lakes / 1 731* / 400 / 23% / (- -) # / 0 / -21
Total / 9 269 / 5 515 / 59% / - - / 4 921 / -118
Total Active MDBA Storage / 58% ^
Major State Storages
Burrinjuck Reservoir / 1 026 / 462 / 45% / 3 / 459 / +1
Blowering Reservoir / 1 631 / 828 / 51% / 24 / 804 / -28
Eildon Reservoir / 3 334 / 2 410 / 72% / 100 / 2 310 / -44
*Menindee surcharge capacity – 2050 GL ** All Data is rounded to nearest GL **
# NSW takes control of Menindee Lakes when storage falls below 480 GL, and control reverts to MDBA when storage next reaches 640 GL
^ % of total active MDBA storage
Snowy Mountains Scheme Snowy diversions for week ending 18 Mar 2014
Storage / Active Storage (GL) / Weekly Change (GL) / Diversion (GL) / This Week / From 1 May 2013Lake Eucumbene - Total / 1 499 / n/a / Snowy-Murray / +0 / 651
Snowy-Murray Component / 695 / n/a / Tooma-Tumut / +0 / 235
Target Storage / 1 410 / Net Diversion / 0 / 415
Murray 1 Release / +1 / 940
Major Diversions from Murray and Lower Darling (GL) *
New South Wales / This Week / From 1 July 2013 / Victoria / This Week / From 1 July 2013Murray Irrig. Ltd (Net) / 35.0 / 1005 / Yarrawonga Main Channel (net) / 11.9 / 284
Wakool Sys Allowance / 2.0 / 36 / Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net) / 20.8 / 442
Western Murray Irrigation / 0.5 / 24 / Sunraysia Pumped Districts / 1.3 / 104
Licensed Pumps / 8.0 / 205 / Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s) / 0.9 / 155
Lower Darling / 2.2 / 196 / Licensed pumps - LMW / 4.3 / 259
TOTAL / 47.7 / 1466 / TOTAL / 39.2 / 1244
* Figures derived from estimates and monthly data. Please note that not all data may have been available at the time of creating this report.
** All data above is rounded to nearest 100 ML for weekly data and nearest GL for cumulative data**
Flow to South Australia (GL)* Flow to SA will be greater than normal entitlement for this month due to the delivery of additional environmental water. / Entitlement this month / 186.0 *
Flow this week / 48.7 / (7 000 ML/day)
Flow so far this month / 143.3
Flow last month / 201.7
Salinity (EC) (microSiemens/cm at 25o C)
Current / Average over the last week / Average since 1 August 2013Swan Hill / 120 / 100 / 90
Euston / 110 / 110 / 100
Red Cliffs / 130 / 120 / 110
Merbein / 140 / 130 / 120
Burtundy (Darling) / 460 / 450 / 500
Lock 9 / 150 / 150 / 180
Lake Victoria / 230 / 230 / 250
Berri / 310 / 340 / 270
Waikerie / 400 / 400 / 320
Morgan / 410 / 420 / 310
Mannum / 400 / 390 / 340
Murray Bridge / 350 / 340 / 350
Milang (Lake Alex.) / 750 / 740 / 680
Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) / 630 / 620 / 550
Meningie (Lake Alb.) / 2 620 / 2 680 / 2 630
Goolwa Barrages / 1 630 / 1 300 / 1 310
River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 19 Mar 2014
Minor Flood Stage / Gauge / Height / Flow / Trend / Average Flow this Week / Average Flow last WeekRiver Murray / (m) / local (m) / (m AHD) / (ML/day) / (ML/day) / (ML/day)
Khancoban / - / - / - / 430 / F / 430 / 430
Jingellic / 4.0 / 1.12 / 207.64 / 570 / F / 540 / 550
Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River ) / 4.2 / 1.84 / 218.73 / 1 630 / F / 1 630 / 1 560
Heywoods / 5.5 / 3.29 / 156.92 / 15 470 / R / 13 920 / 15 270
Doctors Point / 5.5 / 3.12 / 151.59 / 16 240 / R / 14 560 / 15 740
Albury / 4.3 / 2.15 / 149.59 / - / - / - / -
Corowa / 3.8 / 3.06 / 129.08 / 14 470 / R / 14 400 / 15 100
Yarrawonga Weir (d/s) / 6.4 / 1.41 / 116.45 / 8 170 / R / 7 930 / 9 030
Tocumwal / 6.4 / 2.02 / 105.86 / 7 930 / F / 8 000 / 8 790
Torrumbarry Weir (d/s) / 7.3 / 1.41 / 79.96 / 3 660 / F / 4 110 / 4 930
Swan Hill / 4.5 / 0.91 / 63.83 / 3 810 / F / 4 250 / 5 380
Wakool Junction / 8.8 / 2.49 / 51.61 / 5 560 / F / 6 150 / 7 520
Euston Weir (d/s) / 8.8 / 1.33 / 43.17 / 6 090 / F / 6 450 / 9 020
Mildura Weir (d/s) / - / - / - / - / - / -
Wentworth Weir (d/s) / 7.3 / 2.84 / 27.60 / 6 460 / F / 7 280 / 8 890
Rufus Junction / - / 3.54 / 20.47 / 6 770 / R / 6 470 / 7 650
Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s) / - / 0.70 / - / 5 560 / F / 6 120 / 5 380
Tributaries
Kiewa at Bandiana / 2.7 / 0.79 / 154.02 / 290 / R / 340 / 200
Ovens at Wangaratta / 11.9 / 7.89 / 145.57 / 370 / R / 260 / 200
Goulburn at McCoys Bridge / 9.0 / 1.51 / 92.93 / 990 / R / 950 / 910
Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s) / - / 0.82 / 80.59 / 580 / F / 620 / 940
Edward at Liewah / - / 1.80 / 57.18 / 1 130 / F / 1 260 / 1 440
Wakool at Stoney Crossing / - / 1.46 / 54.95 / 510 / F / 580 / 660
Murrumbidgee at Balranald / 5.0 / 0.86 / 56.82 / 500 / F / 730 / 1 180
Barwon at Mungindi / - / 3.17 / - / 80 / F / 60 / 40
Darling at Bourke / - / 4.08 / - / 290 / F / 360 / 130
Darling at Burtundy Rocks / - / 0.79 / - / 240 / F / 290 / 310
Natural Inflow to Hume / 570 / 900
(i.e. Pre Dartmouth & Snowy Mountains scheme)
Weirs and LocksPool levels above or below Full Supply Level (FSL)
Murray / FSL (m AHD) / u/s / d/s / FSL (m AHD) / u/s / d/sYarrawonga / 124.90 / -0.20 / - / No. 7 Rufus River / 22.10 / -0.01 / +1.24
No. 26 Torrumbarry / 86.05 / +0.01 / - / No. 6 Murtho / 19.25 / +0.06 / +0.15
No. 15 Euston / 47.60 / +0.01 / - / No. 5 Renmark / 16.30 / +0.08 / +0.26
No. 11 Mildura / 34.40 / +0.00 / +0.10 / No. 4 Bookpurnong / 13.20 / +0.09 / +0.77
No. 10 Wentworth / 30.80 / +0.02 / +0.20 / No. 3 Overland Corner / 9.80 / +0.13 / +0.42
No. 9 Kulnine / 27.40 / -0.06 / -0.52 / No. 2 Waikerie / 6.10 / +0.24 / +0.33
No. 8 Wangumma / 24.60 / -0.50 / +0.13 / No. 1 Blanchetown / 3.20 / +0.16 / -0.05
Lower LakesFSL = 0.75 m AHD
Lake Alexandrina average level for the past 5 days (m AHD) / 0.61Barrages Fishways at Barrages
Openings / Level (m AHD) / No. Open / Rock Ramp / Vertical SlotGoolwa / 128 openings / 0.64 / All closed / - / Open
Mundoo / 26 openings / 0.60 / All closed / - / -
Boundary Creek / 6 openings / - / 0.1 / - / -
Ewe Island / 111 gates / - / All closed / - / -
Tauwitchere / 322 gates / 0.64 / 1 / Open / Open
AHD = Level relative to Australian Height Datum, i.e. height above sea level
GPO Box 1801 Canberra ACT 2601Telephone: 02 6279 0100Facsimile: 02 6248 8053
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Email: Web: ABN 13679821382
Week ending Wednesday 19 Mar 2014
State Allocations (as at 19 Mar 2014)
NSW - Murray Valley / Victorian - Murray ValleyHigh security / 100%
General security / 100%
/ High reliability / 100%
Low reliability / 0%
NSW – MurrumbidgeeValley / Victorian - GoulburnValley
High security / 95%
General security / 59%
/ High reliability / 100%
Low reliability / 0%
NSW - Lower Darling / South Australia – MurrayValley
High security / 100%
General security / 100%
/ High security / 100%
NSW : /
VIC : /
SA : /
Mitta Mitta River
Flow advice
17 March 2014 /
Flows from Dartmouth Reservoir to vary from March to mid-April
Landholders and river users should take into account the variable water releases from Dartmouth Reservoir into the Mitta Mitta River expected for the remainder of March to mid-April, and make any necessary adjustments to their river activities.
On Friday, 21 March 2014, the flow will be decreased from 1,500 megalitres per day (ML/day) at Colemans gauge (gauge height 1.56m) to a flow of 1,000ML/day (gauge height 1.39m). This flow is expected to continue over the weekend. The flow at Tallandoon during this period is expected to be less than 1,200ML/day (1.7 m gauge height).
An increase in flow to 4,500ML/day (Colemansgauge height 2.14m) is planned to commence on the morning of Monday, 24 March, and continue for a few days before being gradually reduced to a flow of about 800ML/day by Wednesday, 9 April.
The flow at Tallandoon is currently about 1,600ML/day (gauge height 1.82 m). Current forecasts indicate that the higher releases from Dartmouth Reservoir during late March will result in a peak flow at Tallandoon of about 4,500ML/day (gauge height 2.52 m), assuming little or no rain during this period.
Dartmouth Reservoir is currently storing 3,472GL (90 per cent capacity). These releases from Dartmouth to Hume Reservoir will free up additional airspace in Dartmouth Reservoir, thereby increasing its flood mitigation capacity for the coming winter and spring without affecting the security of supply to downstream water users.
Variations in the release rate are aimed at improving the Mitta Mitta River’s water quality and facilitate recreational use downstream of the Dartmouth Reservoir.
A further flow advice will be issued if these forecasts change significantly. Another flow advice will be issued at the end of March about conditions expected over the Easter period.
The MDBA routinely updates the flow forecasts its website at mdba.gov.au/river-data/current-information-forecasts/storage-volumes each Wednesday.
The Weekly Report is available at mdba.gov.au/river-data/current-information-forecasts/weekly-report
ENDS
Media enquiries can be directed to the MDBA Media Office at or 02 6279 0141.
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